United States › North Carolina › Locust CITY
Locust North Carolina · 6,120 residents (2025 est.) · 8.22 sq mi
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The short version
Locust is a city of 5,840 people in North Carolina. Since 2000 the city has more than doubled, up 3,424 people. 87% of homes are owner-occupied. 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. The foreign-born share is 2%. Median rent is $895 a month.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
23% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 85%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 2,416 in 2000
6,120 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
710 / sq mi
+72%since 2009
from 412 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 36.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
2K 3K 4K 5K 6K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Locust Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $76,504
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $44,556 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $19,250 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 24.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 4.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.416 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Public administration 7.6%
Transportation & warehousing 2.7%
Professional, scientific, technical 1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.7%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.4%
Education & health services 0.4%
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$322,100
+85%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $95,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$895
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $529 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 81.3% in 2000
13.1% rent
from 15.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.56 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 26.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 35.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 3.1 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 93.8%(2,267)
Hispanic / Latino 3.4%(82)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 91%(5,317)
Hispanic / Latino 3.8%(221)
from 26 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 11 more ancestry groups with data from 10.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 77.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 3.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 28.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 84.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 12.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 5.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 69.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 75.8% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 7.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 27.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 19.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 12.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 87.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 94.7% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 90.2% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 95.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 3.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 12.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 56.8% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 19.0% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 23.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 8.8% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 0.8% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 74.8% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 30.5% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 42.8%(89)
Share of the 208 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Locust, North Carolina? Locust, North Carolina has about 5,840 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Locust, North Carolina? The typical household in Locust, North Carolina earns about $76,504 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Locust, North Carolina expensive? In Locust, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $322,100, and the typical rent is about $895 a month.
How educated are people in Locust, North Carolina? About 22.5% of adults age 25 and over in Locust, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Locust, North Carolina? About 8.7% of people in Locust, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.
Has Locust, North Carolina grown since 1990? Yes, Locust, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,913 residents, a change of about 203 percent over that period.
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